1. Adoption of IPv6
Implementing the IPv6 protocol standard is essential for the Internet’s long-term growth.
Introduction:
The Internet operates by moving data between networks. To communicate, each computer or other device connected to the Internet must be identified by a unique IP address. We have been using Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and its 4.3 billion IP addresses since the inception of the Internet, but are now running low on IP addresses. So that we can continue adding new devices and services to the Internet, we must deploy IPv6. IPv6 is the latest version of the Internet Protocol (IP) standard and it is the replacement to IPv4.
IPv6 is critical to the Internet’s continued growth as a platform for innovation and economic development. Network operators, Web companies, hardware manufacturers, software developers, and enterprises need to implement IPv6 to ensure long-term growth, effective data transmission, and global connectivity.

2. Introduction
IPv4
4,294,967,296
devices
IPv6
340,282,366,920,938,463,374,607,431,768,211,456
The number of IPv6 addresses is 1028 (79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,336) times larger than the number of IPv4 addresses.
IPv4 and IPv6 are not directly interoperable, but are designed to coexist and support the same Internet services and applications.
The gap in IPv6 readiness between different countries and individual networks is significant, but progress is being made.
More initiatives are needed to globally promote the implementation of IPv6.
Introduction:
Every computer, mobile phone, and other device connected to the Internet needs an IP address in order to communicate with other devices.
Because nearly all of the approximately 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses are already assigned globally, the adoption of IPv6, which has 340 trillion, trillion, trillion unique addresses, is key to the Internet’s continued growth, development, and evolution.
IPv4 and IPv6 are not directly interoperable. However, IPv6 is designed to coexist with IPv4 and support the same Internet services and applications. In the preferred dual-stack deployment approach, IPv6 is deployed in parallel with IPv4 on all infrastructure and services where it automatically is used in preference to IPv4, whenever possible.
There is a significant gap in IPv6 readiness between different countries and individual networks. This widening gap could lead to a negative impact on the economic and societal benefits of the Internet. It is important that all stakeholders continue to encourage IPv6 adoption in order to ensure the continued global connectivity and long-term growth of the Internet.
The rate of IPv6 use has accelerated in recent years, but more action still needs to be taken by network operators, content providers, software and hardware developers, and enterprises, among others, to implement IPv6 in their products, services, and operations.

3. Need and demand for IPv6 adoption is driven by…
Key Considerations
Need and demand for IPv6 adoption is driven by…
Direct addressability 1
Cost and complexity 2
Default IPv6 support 3
Existing IPv4 devices 4
Economic growth and innovation 5
Key considerations driving the need and demand for IPv6 adoption include:
Direct addressability. More and more devices are becoming connected to the Internet and thus require globally unique IP addresses to operate properly or realize their full potential. This growth will accelerate as the Internet of Things becomes more commonplace. Devices that are intended to be directly addressable across the Internet require true end-to-end connectivity provided by unique IP addresses; they will not be able to rely on using IPv4.
Cost and complexity. Exclusively using IPv6 decreases the cost and complexity of continuing to support IPv4 in operating networks. Using IPv6 can reduce the resources required to continue to support legacy IPv4 devices, which can also simplify network management and troubleshooting in some cases. Native IPv6 traffic can be expected to perform better and more reliably than IPv4 traffic using transitional techniques..
Enabling IPv6 by default will eliminate the need for action by users and thereby increase adoption. In this respect, the correct initial configuration of computers and mobile devices, as well as software, such as web browsers and operating systems, is a key stimulus for the adoption of IPv6.
Existing IPv4 devices. Many of the billions of devices already connected to the Internet are designed to use only IPv4 addresses and won’t automatically operate on IPv6 networks. It is not feasible to require that all Internet traffic switch to the IPv6 standard if it would leave IPv4 devices unable to communicate. To address this problem, workaround techniques have been developed to simultaneously enable both IPv4 devices and IPv6 devices to send and receive data across the Internet. Such techniques enable IPv4 devices to continue to operate, but they require extra configuration, consume resources, and can be the cause of reliability issues.
Economic growth and innovation. Internet address resources are essential to the evolution and functioning of the Internet and our flourishing digital economies. National infrastructures that use IPv6 are better equipped to support economic opportunity and innovation in areas such as the Internet of Things, smart grids, smart infrastructure, and smart buildings. As all IPv4 addresses are allocated globally, the cost of obtaining IPv4 addresses is expected to become much more expensive as a limited number of address blocks are traded.

4. The challenges to greater implementation of IPv6:
Making product and operational modifications,
Expanding the base of IPv6 users, and
Perceived lack of need.
The challenges to greater implementation of IPv6 are that:
Network operators, content providers, software and hardware developers, among other stakeholders, often need to make changes to their systems and services in order to implement IPv6. This has become easier with an increase in technology supporting IPv6, support materials, implementation tools, and skills in the marketplace. However, implementing IPv6 does require effort, skill, and resources. Some companies have chosen to delay this investment or are waiting until their peers, competitors, and service providers also adopt IPv6.
Growing the number of IPv6 users will further accelerate the overall pace of IPv6 adoption. With increased adoption, the overall capabilities of the network will improve as the incremental costs decrease. This makes it more technically and economically attractive for additional users to adopt IPv6. In other words, the network effect creates positive feedback as the gain to everyone grows with the addition of the new IPv6 deployments to the Internet. For this reason, growing the number of IPv6 users is especially key in markets where adoption is lagging.
An impediment to IPv6 adoption is the perception that IPv6 does not have a specific, compelling need, or a “killer application” that will motivate network operators and product developers to adopt it with the appropriate degree of urgency. The success of temporary workarounds such as Network Address Translation has masked the importance and urgency of adopting IPv6. However, as available IPv4 addresses become scarcer, laws of supply and demand suggest that the costs of IPv4 addresses and IPv4 networks will increase to the point that they become greater than the costs associated with deploying IPv6.

5. Governments can encourage IPv6 deployment by:
Adoption of IPv6
Governments can encourage IPv6 deployment by:
Understanding the issue and engaging with stakeholders,
Leading by example,
Communicating IPv6 as a national priority, and
Encouraging public and private sector participation in capacity-building opportunities.
Driving IPv6 Adoption:
Given the depletion of IPv4 addresses, increased public sector awareness of the consequences and the importance of IPv6 take-up isessential.
All governments should thoroughly understand the issue; they should be responsive to, and engage with, relevant stakeholders and the Internet community.
Governments can provide leadership by making IPv6 implementation a priority within the government itself.
Governments can play a leadership role by communicating support for IPv6 implementation and discussing its importance with both industry stakeholders and government IT professionals.
To increase their knowledge of IPv6 deployment techniques, both commercial and public sector network operators should be encouraged to participate in training and other capacity building opportunities.

6. Download the Briefing Paper.
Thank You:
IPv6 is the future of the Internet, because without it, the Internet can no longer grow.
IPv6 has been available since 1999, but real world deployment has been slower than anticipated. To some, IPv6 has not seemed immediately necessary. As we have not yet run out of IP addresses, our online experiences haven’t been negatively impacted yet. But it won’t stay that way.
A lack of IP addresses means that eventually our Internet-connected devices will have a harder time communicating with each other, and innovative devices, appliances, and sensors brought about by the Internet of Things will be unable to connect or will have difficulty communicating.